The 9 Greatest Surprise Performances in Pro Cycling in 2011

Thor Hushovd keeps the maillot jaune at Tour

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After Garmin-Cervelo's victory in the Stage 2 team time trial at the Tour de France, Thor Hushovd pulled on the race leader's yellow jersey. But nobody really expected him to hold his lead for long—not with an on-form Cadel Evans just a second behind him. The Tour's first week was characterized by short, hilly finishes that favored powerful climbers such as Evans and puncheurs like Philippe Gilbert. A big, sprinting rouleur such as Hushovd was unlikely to hold off this world-class field on difficult finishes.

But the yellow jersey has a way of bringing about inspired performances, and over and over again Hushovd was willing to lay it all out to wear the jersey another day. On Stage 4's uphill finish, he opened the throttle on his diesel engine, churning up a power climb with an elite group of climbers and attackers to finish sixth, ahead of wispy climbers like Frank Schleck, Samuel Sanchez, and Jurgen Van Den Broeck. It wasn't until Stage 9, when eight categorized climbs provided a launch pad for a successful breakaway, that Thomas Voeckler would pry the jersey from Hushovd's shoulders.

Voeckler would go on to launch his own inspired defense of the jersey, which lasted 10 stages. But Hushovd wasn't done: The God of Thunder picked up two stage wins later in the Tour.